League Two strugglers Morecambe and Port Vale had to settle for a point apiece in a low-quality 1-1 draw.
Shrimps let lead slip
League Two strugglers Morecambe and Port Vale had to settle for a point apiece in a low-quality 1-1 draw.
The Shrimps enjoyed the best possible start with a goal after just four minutes. Rene Howe worked a good opening down the left and crossed for midfielder Craig Stanley to score his fifth goal of the season with an excellent finish past Joe Anyon.
Morecambe continued to dominate possession without troubling Anyon before the Valiants hit back.
Paul Edwards delivered a superb cross for the unmarked Kyle Perry but he somehow missed the target with his header from six yards.
Perry headed over from a good right-wing cross, but the away side's pressure paid off when Simon Richman equalised with a close-range header from Scott Brown's ball three minutes before the break.
The second half saw both sides up the pace, Louis Dodds hitting the crossbar with a close-range shot after Adam Yates hesitated.
Seconds later the Shrimps almost went 2-1 up when Anyon missed a backpass but the ball curled wide of the post in the swirling wind.
Michael Twiss and Fraser McLachlan both missed good chances for Morecambe at the death.
